SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) -- California utility Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) said Saturday that it has fully restored power to 738,000 customers in 34 counties in Northern and Central California after three-day sweeping energy outages.

"The last group of customers in Amador and Calaveras counties were restored at approximately at 6 p.m. today," said the company, which launched the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) on Wednesday as a preemptive action to avert possible wind-driven wildfires.

PG&E said the PSPS was initiated to ensure community and customer safety due to dry, windy weather and elevated fire risk across its service area. It reported wind gusts exceeding 70 miles (112 km) per hour in some regions Wednesday evening into Thursday.

The San Francisco-based utility confirmed 50 cases of damaged equipment as a result of wind force in the PSPS-impacted areas.

PG&E noted that the vast majority of customers who were affected by the PSPS were restored within 48 hours, and its crews are working hard to repair damaged facilities including downed power lines.

The company's massive power outage measure was the largest preventive action it has ever adopted in California's history.

The blackout impacted many public services, schools and transportation across Northern and Central California, drawing complaints and criticism from state officials including Governor Gavin Newsom who blasted the company for its mismanagement of power equipment.

On Thursday, PG&E CEO Bill Johnson apologized publicly for the first time for the company's inadequate preparation for an unprecedented power shutoff that affected hundreds of thousands of California residents. Enditem

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